New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-26
RECEPTION TO JOIN s. CURWEN.
40 PRAISES THE TONIC SOFIA SYSTEM AND Ia
PLAINS ITS ADVANTAGES.

=, PRAISES THE TONIC SOFIA SYSTEM AND En-
PLAINS ITS ADVANTAGES
,o,n spencer Curwen, tho president of the Iohc
ao,Fa College, of London, and member OF 'ho hoy 81
Academy Of Science, who is widely known a. a" Va
nos,tor OF the Tonic lFa system in England as "c
a. ,h,s cuntrv had a reception last night at No.
O University place. under the auspices OF the AIoi'.
con Tonic Sol Fa Assocl alton and the American 'o0a
blusic Association. About fifty people wore ProS0Ii.
Theodore f. Seward, president OF tho American io'"0
Sofia Association, introduced Mr. Curwoh III H"pP'
way. .,,.a..aur
Mr. Curwen, who received onthuslasuod"''
made short address These are some Oh the 'h'"e'
b said: ,,., T.,
There arc over 5000 teachers OF tho system III
England and more than 100000 schoolchldrch aro
,tudyng IT, and at public exhibitions they have DUO"
mt TO very difficult sight tests satisfactorily ~ -
fbe universal experience In England that 'ho way "
learn tho staff is to learn tho Tonic Sofia Hist ANU
Tonic sofia choruSos In England have 'aAon NO."
Der of first prizes, and one of these ehoru'o u,Oh,
nos.a % Wei n miners some Of whom worA a' "s"''
making two rehearsals day necessary iho 'o"u."'
of the staff is to keep singers 10 einiP'o i"''' ,
.. Tonc Sofia leads beginners QUICKLY 10 oinoui.
-, II also loads singers TO study harmony and
oomnosition Although our system makes no claun
in regard to Instrumental music yet some proior 10
play from It,"
A letter was then read from William Mason, the
aomposer He discussed the system, saying among
other things;
at Is believed that careful investigation will show
that there Is irrecOncilabe conflict bctwoon tho
Tonic Sofia and the present musical staff, but In
reality the two stand In appoSitionthe one preparing
for and leading up to tho easy apprehension of the
other. Tonic Sofia comes first In order for It's nota
{on at reveals tho passing m0dulatOB anC
makes theni clear. while the staff notation, on account
of It's eOmplexlty, tends to obscure them. Tho stan
notation rather hndors than helps the student OF har
mony, since 1t requires many expressions for or
simple truth ss for instance the relation OF tho ton'
to the dominant, etc. Tonic Sofia presents the fact
OF harmony by relation leaving the application to the
different keys till later stage of tho study whcI
they can be easily understood, and Its admlrabic
adaptabillty for tho desired purpose becomes more
apparent as the difficult stages of the study arc
reached 1t has been repeatedly and amply PROVE I'VE,
this new musical method not only leads to accurate
sight singing but at the Same time develops many
sided Intelligence In the student. This boing granted
Il is surely the part of wisdom for our choir singers
and indeed for all who love music TO avail themselves
of its advantages without delay
There was an interesting discussion on the system
In which many took part Among thtrSe prosent were
Mrs Curwen, Edw ard Mason, of Mason q Hamln
! II Merrill, of the Normal College; Arthur Ciappe
Mrs Angelina Brooks, A. X. Virgil b. G. unSeld, th'
Row s s Seward and the Rev. I. 5. Hastings. MT
Curwen will sail for England to-day